A long-serving prison officer has pleaded guilty to conspiring with his wife to supply a kilogram of methylamphetamine that was to be imported into Western Australia from Thailand.

Leonard Keith Hardingham, 73, was arrested in March last year after he had been paid $100,000 by an undercover police officer who pretended to be a buyer of the drug.

The District Court heard Hardingham was told he would receive another $100,000 after the methylamphetamine was supplied.

However the prison officer had been under investigation for weeks, with listening devices placed in his home and his telephone calls intercepted.

Prosecutor Claire Noonan said Hardingham was recorded saying he would not be handling the drug, but could "facilitate" its importation from suppliers in Thailand to whom he would pay a fee.

Ms Noonan said he later told authorities if the deal had succeeded, he planned to move to Thailand to set up a "legitimate" business and would continue to supply the drug.

Hardingham was a prison officer at Hakea jail at the time, and had worked with the Department of Corrective Services for more than 30 years.

His wife has also pleaded guilty to her involvement in the conspiracy, but is yet to be sentenced.

Hardingham's lawyer Max Crispe sought a suppression order on his client's identity, saying he was concerned any publication of the proceedings could be "a little bit distorted" because he was yet to present Hardingham's version of events.

However Judge Ronald Birmingham refused the application, saying he "appreciated there was another side to the story" but adding it would be heard "in due course".

Hardingham was remanded in custody until a further hearing later this year.

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